Process and apparatus for automatic severing of sheets from a band of glass



July 10, 1951 M. H. M. L RAMAIN 2,560,305

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC SEVERING OF SHEETS FROM A BAND oF GLASS 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 26, 1948 FIG. l.

. aww/wko@ MICHEL. HENRY Mme Lows RAM/xm ATTO R N EY M. H. M. RAMAIN 2,560,305 PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC SEVERING OF' July 1o, 1951 SHEETS FROM A BAND OF GLASS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 26, 1948 vwQ/Mov Mmm. HENRYMARIF. Lows RAMAIN ATTOR N EY 5 Sheets-Shea?I 5 M. H. M. RAMAIN l u|||||n|||l|llll|- A MICHEL HENRY MARIE Lows RAMAIN PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC SEVERING OF SHEETS FROM A BAND OF GLASS Illllllllllllllln.

July 1o, 1951 Flled Oct 26, 1948 M. H. M. L. RAMAIN July 10, 1951 PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC SEVERING OF SHEETS FROM A BAND OF GLASS Filed 0G12. 26, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 me/rm MscH EL H aNRY MAmE Lows RAMAIN Nui ATTCRNEY M. H. M. L. RAMAIN 256,305 PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC SEVERING OF Jy w, 1951 SHEETS FROM A BAND 0F GLASS Filed @et 26, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 gmx/rum MICHEL HENRY MAma Lows Kamm ATTO R N EY Patented July 10, 1951 PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC SEVERING OF SHEETS FROM A BAND OF GLAS S Michel Henry Marie Louis Ramain, St. Ingbert,

Territory of the Saar, assignor to Societe Anonyme des Manufactures des Glaces et Produits Chimiques de Saint-Gobain, Chauny & Cirey,

Paris, France Y Application October 26, 1948, Serial No. 56,617

In France October 29, 1947 (C1. LHinds) 19 Claims. 1

,l My `invention has for its object a method and av mechanism which enable the entirely automatic manufacture of rectangular glass sheets of trade sizes from an upwardly moving continuous band. The method consists in providing the automatic succession of the different operations comprising the transversal severing of a glass sheet from the upwardly moving band, the turning of the sheet to a horizontal position, its delivering `to a cutting table, its proper positioning on the table and its nal cutting to its trade rectangul ,ar shape, these different operations being so associated to one another that mechanical means actuated by one of the operations preceding the -iinal cutting orientates the sheet brought into horizontal position on the table in such a manner that the transverse edges of the sheet become perpendicular to the direction along which the cutting tools are moved for the final cutting. f7 -Therprincipal advantage of my invention is to permit the automatic carrying out of all the cutting operations owing to the intervention of the mechanical means orientating the sheet before itsnal cutting.

f Particularly for cutting sheets during the vertical rising of the band there may be used simple vand solid devices provided with a tool moving transversely to the band on a fixed path and at a constant speed. yIt is'known 'that in such devices, in order` to obtain a horizontal scoring, that path must be slightly inclined in respect to the horizontal by reason of the continuous rising of the band while the tool moves.

It is also known that it is sometimes necessary to vary the rising speed oi the band either for regulating the thickness of the sheet or for taking account of eventual variations of the viscosity of the glass mass being drawn.

' As a result of such speed variations the cutting scores will not be always rigorously perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the band and conse- .quently the transverse edges of the sheets will `not always be perpendicular to their longitudinal axis.

When my method is not used such sheets will bythemselves be positioned on the nal cutting table in such a waynthat their transverse edges will not be always perpendicular to the path of the cutting tools. The sheets so produced would not be perfectly rectangular.

The accompanying drawings show a mechanism for carrying out the invention, given as a mere Z spending parts are designated by corresponding marks of reference,

Figure l is a side elevation showing the mechanism by which a sheet is cut from an upwardly moving band of glass and by which the sheet is laid down to a horizontal position in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the cutting table for receiving the sheet delivered by the mechanism shown in Figure 1 and of certain mechanisms associated therewith.

Fig. 3 is a detail View in side elevation of the traction mechanism for drawing the sheet onto the cutting table.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are details showing successive positions of a sheet on/the cutting table and the instrumentalities by which a change of its orientation is accomplished. Y

Fig. '7 is a vertical longitudinal section showing the method of mounting the glass cutters.

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective View for lowering and raising the cutters onto and from the glass.

Fig. 9 is a detail of the automatic stop mecha- Vnism for the travelling tool carrier.

Fig. l0 is a wiring arrangement for the entirely automatic driving of the device.

The continuously formed glass band l is drawn upwardly from the device 2 by which it is formed (which may be of any approved known type) by the traction rollers 2 andits upper end 3 passes into a cradle 4 through a channel 4a limited by the driven rollers 5, 5-6 and 6 carried by the cradle Vwhich exert pressure on the glass band while in the cradle. These rollers are vprovided with ratchets (not shown) so as to hold a sheet separated from the band and prevent this sheet from going down after its separation.

As the band moves upwardly in the channel it will, at a proper time, dependent on the height at which it may be adjusted, pass the trigger roller H carried by the crank arm lla and shift the latter to close an electrical circuit by which a scoring toolI I3 of the proper kind will be moved transversely of the band so as vto trace a substantially horizontal track or line across one face of the glass band 3 from edge to edge, the band being held up against the pressure of the cutter I3 by a roller I4. As the band is moving vertically while the cutter is moving substantially horizontally, the scoring of the band so effected will not be at right angles to the axis of the band but will be oblique thereto. Even if the cut were made diagonally of the sheet while it is moving in an effort to compensate for such movement, the scoring of the band would not necessarily a1- ways be at right angles to the axis of the band or strip due to the fact that the speed of travel of the sheet may vary.

At a later stage in the upward movement of the band, its upper end will shift the trigger roller I2 carried by the crank arm I2a in a bearing I 2c in the cradle and displace the same laterally. This closes the electrical circuit of a reversible motor to drive the pinion 9 meshing with a rack on the arm 8 and thus turn the cradle to the horizontal position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. This turning movement of the cradle is arrested by the lug I5 on the arm 8 contacting with a member I6 which shifts the electrical connection of the motor drive circuit, leaving the cradle stationary in a horizontal position.

As the cradle arrives at the horizontal position, a headed projection I'! on the then lower side thereof enters between the jaws of a catch I6 vprovided with a cushioning base I9, thus bringing the cradle to rest without jar and holding it there while the sheet contained therein is delivered therefrom at the same time the lug I5 contacts with the stop I5 to close the circuit of 'supporting rod where it has a vertical slot 29 into which takes a lug 28 projecting laterally from an endless driven chain passing over the two wheels 23 and 21 located at the opposite ends of the table. Thus on the movement of the chains,

with the parts in the position shown in Figure 2,

the lug 28 will pass around the wheel 21 and become associated with the lower run of the chain, this movement around the wheel resulting in a slowing down of travel and finally in reversal.

The drive of the chain is such that it makes two complete revolutions for each complete cycle of movement of the cradle and thus causes the bar "2I to travel twice in each direction, the movement in one direction being due to the fact that the driving lugs 28 are on the upper runs of the chains, while when the lugs have by the rotation ofthe chains, become projected from the lower run thereof the bar will move in the opposite direction. To permit this the slot 29 is elongated suciently to permit the lug to slide therein when passing around the wheels 26 and 21. The wheel 26 vor 21 'will be driven by the motor I0?, its circuits being controlled in the manner hereinafter described.

The travelling bar 2| has a normal position of rest atv that end of the table remote from the 'cradle (which end will be hereinafter called the right) and the chain is set in motion to move the -bar 2I to the left by a contact closed by the member I6 which at the same time opens the circuit of the motor |50 driving the pinion 9.

With this arrangement the sequence of operation is that after the cradle is lowered with the upper end of a band of glass therein that band will by thebending thereof at the scored zone against the roller I4', be broken, leaving a sheet 3a of glass in the cradle to be lowered to a horizontal position while being held in the cradle by the rollers 5, 5', 6, 6. In order correctly to secure this fracture of the band, the height of the shaft I2?) in the cradle 4 is adjusted so that the tilting of the cradle 4 only takes place at the moment when the cutting trace on the band arrives above the level of a roller I4 disposed on the same side of the glass band I as the cutting trace. This roller prevents lateral displacement of the band towards the left under the action of the tipping motion of the terminal cf the band and this facilitates fraction along the cutting trace. The travelling bar is then moved to the left, see Fig. 2, i. e., towards the cradle. At the end of this movement tongs carried by the bar will engage the end of the sheet 3a which has emerged from the channel in the cradle and is above the left hand end of the table.

The tongs referred to, see Figs. 2 and 3, have two jaws, the lower one, 3I, of which is xed in a frame 30 carried by the cross bar 2I and the other of which, 36, which is pivoted at 34 to the frame and is pressed to close by a spring 31 attached to its arm 35 and the frame 30. With this construction the end of the glass projecting from the cradle will enter between the jaws so that on the reverse movement of the cross bar, i. e.,

towards the right, the sheet of glass will be drawn from the cradle and over the top of the table.

As the cross bar 2I approaches the right hand end of the table a detent 42 (see Fig. 3) rotatable on the shaft 4I encounters a cam 44 on the table 20 and is thereby turned. In turning, a projection 42a on the detent drives a pin 43 projecting from the side of a lever 40, free to move on the shaft 4I, and turns such lever to exert traction n, on the chain 3B passing over the pulley 39 on the (v table as above described, its longitudinal axis will be parallel to the long edge of the table, but it happens that its transverse edges 49 and 49 would be somewhat oblique thereto for the reasons above mentioned. -As the cutting tools of the table run parallelly to its longitudinal axis, their working action would result in a non rectangular sheet. For avoiding these drawbacks, and according to my invention, I place the transverse edges of the sheet square with the longitudinal axis of the table. This requires a slight rotation of the sheet on the table and is effected as follows:

Below each side of the table is a longitudinal rod 45 sliding in guides 53 and each terminating at its right end in a riser 45 and pressed towards the left by the spring 53. In a shell 48 in the top of each riser is a plunger 48 pressed to the left by a spring 41. The left hand end of the rods are connected at l49 to the lower portions of levers 50 and 50 located at the corners of the left hand end of the table and having weighted lower ends 5I normally resting against the fixed abutments 52. The rods 45 are spring pressed towards the right by the springs 41, thus throwing the ends of the levers 50 and 58 to the right of the end of the table, when the plungers 48 are pushed by the bar 2 I.

As the sheet is drawn over the table it passes over the upper ends of the levers 50, coming to rest with its left hand end to the right thereof -along the table.

'and projecting over the left end of the table. The

continued movementl of the tool carrying cross bar 2| after the sheet has been released and dropped, pushes the push rods 48 and rods 45 towardsthe right and thus pulls 'the upper ends of the levers 50, against the projecting end of the sheet and shoves it as a whole towards the right. This advance of the sheet rst causes its forward corner to contact an abutment 44'. on the table and the sheet then turns on that corner under the pressure of the spring 41 on the opposite side of the table, until the oblique end of the sheet lies snugly against the abutment (see Fig 6) This shifts the longitudinal aXis of the sheet to an acute angle to that of the table and in position to be cut along dotted lines shown in Fig. 6 by cutters carried on the tool carrying cross bar.

Mounted on the cross bar or tool carrier 2| intermediate of its ends is a frame 54 (Figure 7) carrying the sheet Vcutting mechanisms, a shaft 56 vextending therethrough from side to'side, the individual cutters `being splined or otherwise at.- tached to the shaft so as to slide `lengthwise thereon in accordance with the width of the strips into which it is desired to cut the sheet. The cutters are brought into working relation with the sheet by a partial turn of the shaft 56 on the completion of that movement of the cross bar towards the right that follows the first left hand movedisk 6| rotating around its mounting pin 6Ia carried by the frame 54 and provided with a peripheral lug as is shown in Figure 7. Alternately coacting with the lug 65 are the two diametrically disposed arms 6l and 68 fast on lthe shaft 4| before referred to and on which is journaled the ytappet or detent 42. A suitable ratchet drive 4Ia is interposed between the tappet and the shaft -4I so that, due to the length of the tappet and the rise of the cam abutment 44, the shaft will be rotated through an arc suicient for the St. Andrews cross 69, see Fig. 8, fast on the shaft 4| and its cooperating spring pressed roller 10 to carry the shaft 4I through a rotation of 90 degrees. Thus the shaft will make a half revolution for each complete two movements of the bar 2| In the relation of the parts shown in Figure '7 this rotation will, by the action of the arm 68 on the lug 65, rotate the disk 6| sufficiently to carry the pitman past its dead center position, thereby oscillating the arm 59 and turning the shaft 56 to depress the cutting `mechanisms carried thereby. The mechanisms will continue depressed until the tool carryingr cross bar 2| reaches the left hand end of its travel when a lug 12 on the inner side of the disk 6I will encounter a proper abutment 12a, see Fig. 2, on the table 20 thus turning the disk 6| back to the position shown in Figure 7, it beingheld normally in that position by the spring 64 one end of which is attached to an arm 63 fast on the shaft* 56 and the other end attached to the frame 54.

The above depression of the cutters is thus due to the cross bar 2| completing its movement to the right by which movement a sheet is laid on the table. At the end of the next movement to the right the other arm 61 is positioned adjacent to the lug 65, but without contacting therewith and on the second movement to the right the arm 61 is rotated to move the disk and to again depress the cutters.

Each cutter is pivoted to a separate arm 59a keyed to and sliding on the shaft 56, the pivot being in a lever carrying the cutter and in the end of an adjustable screw 83 working in the head of the arm 59a and is pressed towards the glass by a spring 8l. By adjusting the screw 83 of each cutter the pressure of that cutter onthe sheet may be adjusted.

Each time the cross bar reaches its end position to the right a dog 'I6 pivoted at 16a on and dependent from the bar 2| (see Fig. 9) contacts with the end of one of the four arms of a cross 1Gb keyed on the shaft |8 mounted on the lower side of the table 28'at the right end thereof and shifts such arm sufliciently to cause the St. Andrews cross '.'9 fixed on the shaft and its accompanying centering roller to complete a degree rotation of the shaft. On the return stroke of the head to the left the dog clicks over the adjacent arm of the cross, Also fixed on the shaft 'I8 are two diametrical tappet arms 80, the two ends of which in their rotation are adapted to open the contact maker in the circuit of the motor driving the chain. As it requires four strokes of the cross bar to the right to complete a rotation of the shaft 'i8 and as there are two tappet arms it will be seen that the switch U will be opened only on every two complete cycles on the travel of the cross bar 2| and then only when such cross bar is at the right hand end of its travel.

Presuming the band of glass is continuously moving up and the cross bar 2| is at rest at the end of its travel to the right, the operation is as follows: `v

(l) The upward movement of the band shifts the roller and causes the band to be'scored by the band scorer I3 and further upward movement of the band shifts the roller I2 and closes the lowering circuit of the motor driving the pinion 9 and lowering the cradle to its horizontal position. In this movement of the cradle the band is broken at the roller I4 and a sheet 3a is thus separated from the upper end of the band.

(2) The lowering circuit of the cradle motor is broken by the lug |5 throwing the lever I6 and by such movement of the lever the circuit of the chain driving motor |07 is made thus causing movement of the cross bar to the left.` This movement may be called the first left movement. At the end of this movement the tongs grasp the end of the sheet projecting from the cradle.

(3) The continued movement of the chains 25 carries the lugs 28 around the rollers 21 and reverses the travel of the bar to cause the first movement thereof towards the right, thus dragging the sheet over the table.

(4) During this movement, the sheet leaves the roller II which returns to its former position, and towards the end of this movement the sheet drops on the table 20 with the transverse trailing edge 49" of the sheet resting close to the vertical levers 50, 50', this drop releases the roller I2 which returns to its former position and closes the rising circuit of the motor driving the pinion 9 and erecting the cardle to its vertical position.

(5) Towards the end of the dragging movement of the sheet on the table, the tongs are loosened on the sheet and the rods 45 are shifted to the right actuating the levers 58, 58' to orient the sheet on the table.

(6) At the completion of this movement shaft 7 4I is rotated through 9|) degrees and the cutters are lowered to the sheet level.

(7) The continued movement of the cross bar for a second time towards the left drags the sheet cutters Yover the sheet and the completion of this movement lifts the cutters.

(3) The further movement of the cross bar for its second travel to the right and at the end of this movement opens at 8| the circuit of the .chain driving motor, to stop the travel of the cross bar.

(9) During the period of rest following this stoppage, the strips of glass into which the sheet may have been cut may be removed from the table.

The structures before described can be made entirely automatic for the severing of successive sheets by the wiring arrangement shown in Figure l0. In this figure, the trigger roller I I shifted by the glass band 3 pushes the switch S9 to the position indicated on Fig. 10 for closing the circuit of the solenoid 90 which actuates the switch 3| of the motor 92 driving the scoring tool |3 of Fig. 1. The solenoid 90 being fed by the current of the feed line 93a, 93h through a circuit closed by the switches 89, 94 actuates the bipolar switch 9| which connects the two phases 95a, 95h of the triphase line 95a, 95h, 95o with the motor 92, on which the third phase 95o is permanently connected. Thus, the motor 92 moves the scoring tool I3 from its position in contact with the switch 96 as shown on Fig. 10 towards the switch 94 which is shifted at the end of this stroke of the scoring tool I3 and opens the circuit of the solenoid 90, thus releasing the switch 9|: thus, the motor 92 stops and so does the scoring tool As soon as the end of the glass band 3 shifts the trigger roller I2, a switch 91 carried by the crank arm I2a closes the circuit which carries i the current of the feeding line 93a, 93h to the solenoid 98, thus moving the switch 99 to its connecting position which feeds the current of the triphase line to the motor meshed with the pinion 9 so that the cradle 4 is turned to its horizontal position. As the cradle is tilting, the lug liberates the arm I6' of the switch |02 by which the energizing circuit of the solenoid |03 actuating the switch |04 for raising the cradle would be closed on the feeding line 93a, 93D if the switch 97 were not discarded from the position 91' by the presence of the glass band against the trigger roller I2. When the cradle 4 arrives to its horizontal position, the lug I5 contacts with the stop I6, thus moving the switch I0! which opens the circuit of the solenoid 98, thus the switch 99 is released to its opened position, the motor |00 is stopped and so does the cradle 4. Then the switch IUI closes the circuit which connects the line 93a, 93h through the switch s to the solenoid |05, which moves the switch |09 into the position connecting the line 95a, 95h, 95o with the motor |01 actuating the cross bar 2|. That movement of the switch If closes the switch r and opens the switch s, but the circuit of the solenoid |05 continues to be closed through the switch u which shunts the switch s.

As soon as the glass sheet 3 has released the trigger arm |I, the switch 39 comes into the position closing the circuit feeding the solenoid |03 through the switch 955 which came into closing position when the scoring tool I3 was moved by the motor 92 towards the switch 95|. The energization of solenoid |08 by the current of the line 93o, 93h drives the switch |09 to its position connecting the triphase line 95a, 95h. 95e and the motor 92 which. moves the scoring tool I3 from the switch 96. When the switch 94 is shifted by the tool I3, it opens the circuit of the solenoid |08, the switch |09 is released, the motor 92 stops and so does the scoring tool I3.

As soon as the glass sheet 3 has been delivered to the cutting table 20, it releases the trigger roll I2 and the switch 91 secured to the latter comes to the position 9T', thus closing the circuit which energizes the solenoid |03. Then, the switch |04 is moved to the position connecting the `motor |00 which rotates the cradle 4 to its vertical position, thus releasing the lug I5 from the stop 5 and the switch I0| is carried back to the position shown on Fig. l0, opening the circuit of the solenoid |05; this movement would close the circuit of the solenoid |05 if the switch u were in its closing position, but that switch has been put to its opening position by the'trigger 8| pushed by one of the tappet arms at the end of the second stroke of the cross bar 2| to the right. In that condition, as no current passes through the solenoid |05, the switch |06 comes back to its opening position and the motor |01 stops and so does the cross bar 2|, the switches r and s returning to their rst positions indicated on Fig. l0.

As soon as the lug I5 hits the lever I6', the switch |02 opens the circuit of the solenoid |03, the switch |04 returns to its opening position, the motor |00 stops and so does the cradle 4 which has just arrived in its vertical position. A new upper end of the glass band which has been continuously rising after the severing of the former glass sheet, passes between the guiding rollers 5, 5' and when it raises the trigger roller I, a new succession of the above indicated movements will begin as above described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claimvis;

l. A method for automatically cutting rectangular glass Vsheets of trade sizes from an upwardly moving band which consists in effecting the successive operations of transverse severing of a sheet from the upwardly moving band, turning the sheet to a horizontal position, delivering it to a cutting table, shifting the sheet on the table before its nal cutting so that its transverse edges will be placed square to the longitudinal axis of the table and cutting thev long edges of the sheet parallelly to said longitudinal axis.

2. The combination with means for upwardly feeding a band of glass, of a cradle pivoted on a horizontal axis having a channel to receive the upper end of such band when the cradle is vertical, means for scoring the band transversely, means for turning the cradle from a vertical to a horizontal position, a cutting table adjacent to the free end of the cradle when horizontal, glass dragging tongs movable above the table, and means actuated by the movement of the cradle to horizontal position to move the tongs to en'- gage the end of the glass in the cradle and to draw it therefrom and over the table.

3. The combination with means for upwardly feeding a band of glass, of a cradle pivoted on a horizontal axis having a channel to receive the upper end of such band when the cradle is vertical, means for scoring the band transversely, means for turning the cradlefrom avertical to a horizontal position, a cutting table adjacent to the free end of the cradle when horizontal, means forl moving theglass on the'table length- `9 4wise vof the cutting table and means for shifting the orientation of glass on the table. 4. 'The combination with means for upwardly feeding a band of glass, of a cradle pivoted on a horizontal axis having a channel to receive the upper end of such band when the cradle is vertical,'means for scoring the band transversely,l

means for turning the cradle from a vertical to a horizontal position, a cutting table adjacent to theY free end of the cradle when horizontal, means for moving the glass on the table lengthwise of the cutting table and means for shifting the orientation of glass on `the table in order to bring the transverse edges square to the longitudinal axis of the'cutting table and to the travel of the cutting means.

A 5. The combination with means for upwardly feeding'a vband of glass, of a cradle pivoted on a horizontal axis having a channel to receive the upper endof such band when the cradle is vertical, means for scoring the band transversely, means for turning the cradle from a vertical to a horizontal position, a cutting table adjacent to the free end of the cradle when horizontal, tongs movable lengthwise of the table to draw the glass from the cradle and onto the table and means actuatedv by the completion of such movement of the tongs to shift the orientation of glass on the table.

6. The combination with a cutting table, of a travelling tool carrier moving lengthwise of the table, means carried by the carrier for drawing a sheet of glass onto the table when moved in one-direction, cutters mounted on the tool carrier, and means for depressing the cutters onto the glass on the table of the following movement of the carrier in the Yopposite direction and to left them therefrom at the end of such movement.

'7. The combination with a cutting table, of a travelling tool carrier moving lengthwise of the table, means carried by the carrier for drawing a sheet of glass onto the table when moved in one direction, means actuated by such movement of the carrier to change the orientation of glass cn the table, cutters mounted on the tool carrier, and means for depressing the cutters onto the glass on the table on the completion of such movement of the carrier and to lift the cutters from the glass at the end of the following movement of the carrier in the opposite direction.

8. The combination with a cutting table, of a travelling tool carrier moving lengthwise of the table, means carried by the carrier for drawing a sheetv of glass onto the Ytable when moved in one direction, means actuated by such movement of the carrier to change the orientation of glass on the table, cutters mounted on the tool carrier, means for depressing the cutters onto the glass on the table on the completion of such movement of the carrier and to lift the cutters from the glass at the end of the following movement of the carrier in the opposite direction.

9. The combination with a cradle for separating a sheet of 'glass from a vertically moving band of glass and lowering it into a horizontal position adjacent to a cutting table, a cutting table, a tool carrier moving over the table and actuated by the turning of the sheet to make two ,complete cycles of movement over the table, tongs on the carrier engaging the horizontal sheet at the end of the first movement of the carrier towards the cradle and for then drawing the sheet over the table on the succeeding movement of the carrier away from the cardle, means for releasing the tongs near the end of the last named movement, means for changing the orientation of the lglass on the table at the end of such movement, glass cutters Ymounted in the carrier, means for lowering the cutters on the sheet at the end of such movement and for lifting them therefrom at the end of a second movement of the carrier towards the cradle and means for stopping the vcarrier at the end of its second movement away from theV cradle.

10. The combination with a cutting table, means for dragging onto the table in a predetermined path a sheet of glass with its ends oblique to the direction of the movement of such dragging means, an abutment on one endof the table, in the path of travel or the sheet and resilient means actuated by the dragging means to shove upon opposite rear corners of the glass on table.

1l. The combination with means for forming and feeding upwardly a band of glass, of a horizontal pivoted cradle receiving the band as former, scoring means, a motor to turn the cradle, means on the cradle actuated by the presence of glass adjacent thereto to drive the motor to lower the cradle, a reversing switch for the motor actuated by the cradle to reverse the motor circuits, means on the cradle actuated by the absence of glass adjacent thereto to close the lifting circuit of the cradle, a cutting table adjacent to the end of the cradle when horizontal, a tool carrier movable over the table, glass dragging, orienting,` and cutting means movable with the carrier, the motor for moving the carrier lengthwise of the table, a switch in the last named motor circuit actuated on every other arrival of the carrier at the end of the table away from the cradle to open the such motor circuit, and a pilot circuit aroundsaid last named switch containing the aforesaid switch closed by the absence of glass and a switch closed when the cradle is horizontal.

12. In a device for automatically cutting rectangular glass sheets from an upwardly moving band of glass, the combination with a cradle in' vertical position for receiving the upper part of the glass band and separating a glass sheet thereon, means for transversely scoring the glass band,

means for lowering the cradle into a horizontal position together with the sheet, a cutting table, a tool carrier moving over the table and actuated by the turning of the cradle to make two complete cycles ofmovement over the table, tongs on the carrier engaging the horizontal sheet at the end of the rst movement of the carrier towards the cradle and for then drawing the sheet over the table on the succeeding' movement of the carrier away from the cradle, means for releasing the tongs near the end of the last named movement, means for changing the orientation` of the glass on the table at the end of and actuated by such movement, means for returning the cradleinto its vertical position, glass cutters mounted in the carrier, means for lowering the cutters on the sheet at the end of such movement and for lifting them therefrom at the end of a second movement of the carrier towards the cradle and means for stopping the carrier at the end of its second movement away from the cradle.

13. The combination with means for continuously feeding a band of glass, of scoring means moving across the band, a motor actuating the scoring means, a cutting table, means for breaking the band where scored and laying the severed sheet on the cutting table, and means for shifting the sheet on the table to cause its severed end to be normal to the length of the table.

over the table, a motor for moving the tool carl rier through a plurality of complete movements lengthwise of the table when energized, a switch controlling the circuit of the said motor thrown to open position by the presence of the carrier at one end of one of its strokes and a switch in shunt to the first named switch and thrown to closed position by the absence of glass in the cradle.

15. In a device for severing a continuously upwardly moving band of glass into separate sheets, the combination with means for forming the band, of a cradle pivoted on a horizontal axis and provided with a channel to receive the successively formed ends of the band, means for scoring the band transversely, a trigger on the cradle located adjacent to the channel actuating the severing means, means actuated by the movement of the band in the channel for turning the cradle from its Vertical position to a horizontal position, a cutting table, means to deliver the sheet to the cutting table and means for shifting the orientation of the sheet on the cutting table in order to bring its transverse edges perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cutting table.

16. The combination with a cradle pivoted on a horizontal axis and when vertical receiving an upwardly moving strip of glass, scoring means, means actuated by the presence of the glass on the cradle to lower the cradle to the horizontal, and by the absence of glass on the cradle to raise it to the vertical, a cutting table, means for shifting the sheet on the table to cause its severed end to be normal to the length of the table, a cutting tool carrier movable over the table, periodically operating means for moving the cutting tool carrier longitudinally of the table, means -for maintaining said operating means inactive when the cutting tool carrier moves to one extremity of its movement over the table and means operated by the movement of the cradle to horizontal position for activating said operating means.

l'7. The combination with a cradle pivoted on a horizontal axis and when vertical receiving an upwardly moving strip of glass, scoring means, means actuated by the presence of the glass on the cradle to lower the cradle to the horizontal, and by the absence of glass on the cradle to raise it to the vertical, a cutting table, means for shifting the sheet on the table to cause its severed end to be normal to the length of the table, a cutting tool carrier movable over the table, periodically operating means for actuating the cutting tool carrier through a plurality of complete movements lengthwise of the table, means `for maintaining said operating means inactive when the cutting tool carrier completes one of such movements and means operated by the movement of the cradle to horizontal position for activating said operating means.

18. In combination with means for delivering a sheet of glass having its transverse edges abnormal to its longitudinal axis, a cutting table, a cutting tool carrier movable longitudinally of said table, an abutment cooperating with the table normal to the longitudinal axis thereof and traversing the path of delivery of the glass to the tableand means associated with the table for shifting said sheet of glass and one of its trans',- verse edges into a position in contact with said abutment whereby the transverse edge so shifted will rest at right angles to the path of travel o said cutting tool. v

19. An apparatus for cutting a continuous upwardly moving glass strip into separate sheets comprising a device for transversely cutting the strip of glass, a tilting cradle adapted to receive the strip and to bring the severed sheet from the v ertical position to the horizontal position, means for gripping the sheet and transferring it from the cradle to the cutting table, means for shifting the orientation of the sheet on the cutting table in order to bring its transverse edge perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the table, cutting members disposed above the table for longitudinal displacement, means for tilting the table operative by the travel of the glass strip in the cradle, and means operable in a. predetermined order and time during the tilting movement of the table for actuating said gripping and transferring means, the means for shifting the sheet on the cutting table and said cutting members.

MICHEL HENRY MARIE LOUIS RAMAIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,996,387 Owen Apr. 2, 1935- 2,1l1,393 Gaskell Mar. 15, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 342,304 Italy 1936 

